Radiator plug replacement for drain pet cock

ABSTRACT

The invention is a threadless, solderless replacement valve plug for radiator pet cocks made of only two low cost parts. A valve spool having a peripheral taper and a region of large diameter and a region of small diameter carries a compressible bushing on the region of large diameter against an inner end flange of the valve spool. The compressible bushing snugly fits the region of larger diameter against the inner flange and is thus compressed within the radiator drain hole, the pressure of the coolant fluid maintaining a positive lock. The valve spool includes an axial hole extending in bore-like fashion substantially its length from an outer flanged end to terminate adjacent to the inner flanged end. A radial hole communicates with the axial bore-like hole to permit draining of the radiator when the valve spool is slid through the bushing to uncover the radial hole within the radiator. The region of lesser diameter and tapered region of the valve spool enables insertion of the plug as original equipment or as a repair kit for radiators with broken drains.

United States Patent Childress [111 3,744,558 1 July 10, 1973 RADIATOR PLUG REPLACEMENT FOR DRAIN PET COCK Bobby B. Childress, 145 Shadow Lane, Charlotte, NC. 28214 22 Filed: July 13, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 162,089

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Harold W. Weakley Atrorney-Wilfred G. Caldwell ABSTRACT The invention is a threadless, solderless replacement valve plug for radiator pet cocks made of only two low cost parts. A valve spool having a peripheral taper and a region of large diameter and a region of small diameter carries a compressible bushing on the region of large diameter against an inner end flange of the valve spool. The compressible bushing snugly fits the region of larger diameter against the inner flange and is thus compressed within the radiator drain hole, the pressure of the coolant fluid maintaining a positive lock. The valve spool includes an axial hole extending in borelike fashion substantially its length from an outer flanged end to terminate adjacent to the inner flanged end. A radial hole communicates with the axial borelike hole to permit draining of the radiator when the valve spool is slid through the bushing to uncover the radial hole within the radiator. The region of lesser diameter and tapered region of the valve spool enables insertion of the plug as original equipment or as a repair kit for radiators with broken drains.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing; Figures Pmimzn 3.7445558 FIGURE 5 FIGURE 4 1 INVENTOR,

BOBBY B. CHILDRESS 4d fig/41m FIGURE 5 RADIATOR PLUG REPLACEMENT FOR DRAIN PET COCK The present invention is provided to solve or avoid the problems encountered when the pet cock of a radiator drain is broken off usually during draining of the radiator preparatory to replacing the coolant. It is estimated that during the life of vehicles, one out of five such vehicles will require repair of the radiator drain plug at least once. The reason for this is because of the delicate nature of radiators wherein the pet cock threaded mounting insert is soldered or sweated to the radiator wall and excessive tightening or undue corrosion breaks the solder joint before the plug can be re moved. Then usually the vehicles must be towed into a radiator repair garage where the radiator is removed, repaired, and a new pet cock soldered thereto, followed by reinstallation of the radiator. This usually results in lay-up of the vehicle for a day or two and undue expense.

The present invention avoids the threaded drain plug entirely while eliminating soldering and expensive procedures. It comprises a two-part repair kit or two-part drain assembly which may be installed on new vehicles at the factory. A valve spool is provided which has a peripheral region of a diameter slightly less than the drain hole in the radiator wall. It also has another portion of lesser diameter and these two portions are preferably connected by a tapered portion. A compressible bushing of rubber, neoprene or other suitable material is adapted snugly to fit over the region of larger diameter and has an axial portion where the inside diameter tapers smaller and must be compressed to fit within the radiator drain hole. It also'has a flanged portion extending from the axial portion to provide a seal against the exterior of the radiator wall. A peripheral flange on the inner end of the valve spool is provided to wedgeor compress the inner axial portion of the bushing against the inner edges of the drain hole so that coolant pressure maintains this compression and forms a positive lock through this structure.

The valve spool includes an axial bore-like hole penetrating it from its outer end to terminate at a position near the inner end. One or more radial holes communicates with this axial bore-like hole to provide a coolant passage from the periphery of the inner end along the bore-like hole externally of the radiator. However, when the drain plug is stopping the radiator, the radial hole is covered or closed by the bushing. Thus, it is necessay to push the valve spool inwardly of the radiator to uncover the radial hole to drain the radiator. This may be accomplished without removing the plug because the larger diameter portion of the vale spool is long enough to form a sliding seat of constant diameter for the bushing while uncovering the radial hole inwardly of the radiator. Thus, the radiator may be opened and closed to draining through siding movement without requiring any springs, threaded engagement, soldering, or the use of tools. The lesser diameter portion of the plug is provided to facilitate insertion of the plug because the bushing may be seated on the lesser diameter portion of the valve spool to enable easy insertion within the radiator hole. Then the valve spool is withdrawn compressing the bushing between the larger diameter region and the inner surface of the radiator drain hole.

Preferably a flange is provided on the outer end of the valve spool to prevent loss of the bushing. However,

the bushing is readily assembled onto the valve spool simply by sliding it over one of the flanges.

A further embodimeht of the invention includes a radially extending tab on the inner flange of the valve spool to serve as an added safety feature to prevent dislodgment of the plug under adverse situations. The use of such a flange requires the insertion of the plug in the manner of one stepping into a shoe.

The foregoing will be more apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation of the plug of th present invention inserted in operative closing position within a radiator wall;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation ofa portion of the radiator wall to show the structure adjacent the drain hole;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the valve spool, per se;

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective, partly broken away, to show the bushing, per se;

FIG. 5 shows the modified view of the invention which is confined to a different configuration of the forward flange of the valve spool;

FIG. 6 shows the bushing assemlbed on the valve spool in position for insertion of the plug;

FIG. 7 shows the bushing being extended from the lesser diameter end toward the greater diameter end to be compressed by the radiator drain hole; and

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective of the two parts of the new drain plug in operative or closing position.

Referring now to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the preferred form of the valve spool 1 is cylindrical having an inner large diameter region 1a, an outer wall diameter region 1b, and a tapered region 1lc; the inner end of valve spool 1 includes a flange 1d and the outer end of spool 1 includes a simlar flange 1e. An axial bore-like hole 11 penetrates flange 1e and extends substantially the length of spool l but terminates short of the inner end thereof. One or more radial holes 10 communicates with bore 11 from one or more peripheral openmgs.

The other part of the plug of the present invention comprises the compressible bushing 2 of rubber, neoprene, or other suitable resilient material immune from the chemical action of the coolant fluids. Bushing 2 is adapted to stretch over one of the flanges 10 or 1d to fit snugly about the larger diameter portion la of spool 1. It includes an outwardly extending flange portion to bear against the radiator wall 3 with its axial portion compressed by the radiator drain hole 4. Thus, in FIG. 1, the plug of the presnetinvention is in its operative or sealing position with bushing 2 covering radial hole 10 thereby closing the egress fluid passageway.

To open the valve of FIG. 1, it is only necessary to push spool l to the right sufficiently to expose radial hole 10 to the fluid entry of the radiator, and thus radial hole 10 is exposed to the fluid to permit fluid egress along axial bore hole 11. the plug is resealed simply by sliding spool l to the left to close radial hole 10 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are provided to show the manner of inserting the drain plug into the radiator drain hole 4. First the bushing 2 is slipped onto spool 1 by stretching it over one of the end flanges le or M. Then the forward end of spool 1 including flange 1d and bushing 2 are inserted throughhole 4. Next. bushing 2, fixed in hole 4, as is seen in FIG. 7, expands up over the tapered portion 10 of spool 1 onto the larger diameter portion In as spool 1 is withdrawn and is compressed into'hole 4 in the position shown n FIG. 8. It will be noted that the length of smaller diameter portion 1b is sufficient to accommodate bushing 2 and the length of larger diameter portion la is more thatn sufficient to accommodate bushing 2 because it is desirable that bushing 2 not be unseated during draining and therefor larger diameter portion 1a is long enough to permit sliding of spool l sufficiently to enable the valve action, i.e., opening and closing of port or hole 10.

Also, it is important to note that in the sealed position of FIG. 1 the axial porton of bushing 2 is shown compressed against the inner end of drain hole 4. This compression is maintained due to the structural configura- 'tion by the coolant pressure within the radiator. However, as an added safety feature, the embodiment of FIG. 5 provides the radial tab 13 on flange 1d for further insuring retention of the plug within hole 4.

ln summary,'it will now be apprecited that the axial portion of the bushing 2 is longer than the walls of the hole 4 such that the flange 1d may compress the end of the axial portion of bushing 2 against the walls of the hole thereby providing a configuration which is locked by coolant pressure. Also, the tapered region of spool 1 provides a smooth transition for bushing 2 from diameter 1b to 10 when it is moved outward for securing the radiator plug in the radiator.

It has been found that when used as a radiator repair kit, the repair can be made in seconds without requiring removal and replacement of the radiator and without the use of tools, pet cocks, springs, expense or even skill. Very likely if the radiator plug of the present invention replaces pet cocks as original equipment, the installation may require only a second or two.

For original equipment the diameter of flange 1d is made larger than the diameter of hole 4 since spool 1 may be inserted from inside the radiator at the factory. Bushing 2 is stretched on to spool 1 over flange 1e. Otherwise the desscription of the device is the same.

What is claimed is:

l. A radiator plug adapted to fit a hole in the radiator wall and to serve as a valve capable of blind installation for draining the coolant from the radiator comprising in combination a valve spool having an external peripheral portion of a first diameter less than the diameter of said hole and a further external peripheral portion of a lesser diameter than said first diameter portion and a flange on each end of the spool; one of the flnages deployed in the radiator and the other of the flanges deployed outside the radiator; said spool including an axial bore-like hole penetrating one of said flanges and extending axially along a substantial portion of the length of the spool; said spool further including at least one radial hole opening from the periphery to the borelike hole; and a compressible bushing adapted to fit tightly about a portion of the first diameter periphery of said spool to seal the radiator hole by compression against the first diameter portion and said one flange.

2. The plug of claim 1 wherein the spool has a tapered periphery connecting the regions of first diameter and lesser diameter for carrying the bushing into the radiator in a relaxed or uncompressed condition.

3. The plug of claim 1 wherein the bushing is made of compressible expandable material.

4. The plug of claim 1 wherein the axial distance of the first diameter portion exceeds the length of the bushing sufficiently to enable the spool to be slid through the bushing to uncover said radial hole while maintaining the bushing tightly on said first diameter portion of the spool.

5. The plug of claim 1 wherein one of said flanges includes a radially extending tab.

6. The plug of claim 1 wherein said bushing comprises an axial portion having a flanged portion protruding outwardly therefrom.

7. A radiator plug adapted to fit the drain hole in a radiator wall and to serve as a valve for closing the radiator and for opening the radiator for draining the coolant comprising in combination a valve spool having at least a first region of diameter less than that of the hole and a further region of diameter less than that of the first region; a flange on the end of the valve spool at the region of first diameter; said flange having a diameter only slightly less than that of the hole; a bushing of compressible material adapted to fit snugly about the first diameter region of the spool; said bushing comprising an axial portion adapted to be compressed between the hole and said first region and a flanged portion adapted to bear against the radiator wall about the hole; said bushing further comprising an internal tapered bore; said spool further having an axial borelike hole extending through the end opposite said first region and terminating within said first region; a radial hole communicating with said bore hole in said first region whereby said bushing is adapted to close said radial hole by covering same when the radiator plug is installed in the radiator wall but said radial hole is adapted to be uncovered by sliding movement of the valve spool inwardly of the radiator to open the hole within the radiator.

8. The plug of claim 7 wherein the axial portion of said bushing exceeds in length the radiator wall thickness at said hole whereby said flange comprises the end of the axial portion of said bushing within the radiator against the radiator wall at said hole to provide a configuration which locks the radiator plug in valve closing position due to coolant pressure within the radiator.

9. The radiator plug of claim 7 wherein said first region and said region of lesser diameter are connected by a tapered spool region.

10. The radiator plug of claim 9 wherein said other end of the spool further comprises a flange of a diameter adapted to retain the bushing against unintentional displacement from the spool. 

1. A radiator plug adapted to fit a hole in the radiator wall and to serve as a valve capable of blind installation for draining the coolant from the radiator comprising in combination a valve spool having an external peripheral portion of a first diameter less than the diameter of said hole and a further external peripheral portion of a lesser diameter than said first diameter portion and a flange on each end of the spool; one of the flanges deployed in the radiator and the other of the flanges deployed outside the radiator; said spool including an axial bore-like hole penetrating one of said flanges and extending axially along a substantial portion of the length of the spool; said spool further including at least one radial hole opening from the periphery to the bore-like hole; and a compressible bushing adapted to fit tightly about a portion of the first diameter periphery of said spool to seal the radiator hole by compression against the first diameter portion and said one flange.
 2. The plug of claim 1 wherein the spool has a tapered periphery connecting the regions of first diameter and lesser diameter for carrying the bushing into the rAdiator in a relaxed or uncompressed condition.
 3. The plug of claim 1 wherein the bushing is made of compressible expandable material.
 4. The plug of claim 1 wherein the axial distance of the first diameter portion exceeds the length of the bushing sufficiently to enable the spool to be slid through the bushing to uncover said radial hole while maintaining the bushing tightly on said first diameter portion of the spool.
 5. The plug of claim 1 wherein one of said flanges includes a radially extending tab.
 6. The plug of claim 1 wherein said bushing comprises an axial portion having a flanged portion protruding outwardly therefrom.
 7. A radiator plug adapted to fit the drain hole in a radiator wall and to serve as a valve for closing the radiator and for opening the radiator for draining the coolant comprising in combination a valve spool having at least a first region of diameter less than that of the hole and a further region of diameter less than that of the first region; a flange on the end of the valve spool at the region of first diameter; said flange having a diameter only slightly less than that of the hole; a bushing of compressible material adapted to fit snugly about the first diameter region of the spool; said bushing comprising an axial portion adapted to be compressed between the hole and said first region and a flanged portion adapted to bear against the radiator wall about the hole; said bushing further comprising an internal tapered bore; said spool further having an axial borelike hole extending through the end opposite said first region and terminating within said first region; a radial hole communicating with said bore hole in said first region whereby said bushing is adapted to close said radial hole by covering same when the radiator plug is installed in the radiator wall but said radial hole is adapted to be uncovered by sliding movement of the valve spool inwardly of the radiator to open the hole within the radiator.
 8. The plug of claim 7 wherein the axial portion of said bushing exceeds in length the radiator wall thickness at said hole whereby said flange comprises the end of the axial portion of said bushing within the radiator against the radiator wall at said hole to provide a configuration which locks the radiator plug in valve closing position due to coolant pressure within the radiator.
 9. The radiator plug of claim 7 wherein said first region and said region of lesser diameter are connected by a tapered spool region.
 10. The radiator plug of claim 9 wherein said other end of the spool further comprises a flange of a diameter adapted to retain the bushing against unintentional displacement from the spool. 